10 Peaceful Running Routes in the South of France

To the north of Aix, the lake at Peyrolles (a small town packed full of roadside fruit and vegetable markets) is an old quarry that was filled with water and is now a major rowing and swimming hub on hot summer days for the locals. There are running routes around the lake, a drinks stand for water and you can finish with a dip.

If you’re near Aix-en-Provence, join the morning joggers skirting the river Torse – past the yoga lessons and keep fit trainers working out on the grass. The Torse park is where you’re as likely to find young lovers as families and dog walkers; it’s one of the hubs of local Aixois life.

The Parc Borély is one of Marseille’s secrets that locals would love you not to know about. Jog along the dry river bed, towards the sea and do a few circuits of the park and its stylish mansion.

Local artist Paul Cézanne painted his beloved Sainte-Victoire mountain again and again and it’s an ideal running area, just outside Aix-en-Provence. For ideas of the many routes to take, read our guide here.

Running around the Sainte Victoire | © Andy Maguire/Flickr

The south of France has a few national parks and people love the Mercantour because it’s at the foot of the Alps, close to the border with Italy. It’s a great opportunity to try peaceful routes with a steeper ascent.

The Via Rhôna is an 815 km route that runs down the Rhone Valley from the Alps in Switzerland to the south of France. From Geneva, it passes through Lyon, Avignon and stops west of Marseille at the sea in Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône. Plenty of opportunities to find 20 or so kilometres for a peaceful and historic run.

The Luberon is the area of inland Provence, full of vineyards and hilltop villages, like Gordes and Roussillon. The town of Apt is at the centre of the National Park, where you can run along the river.

The Verdon gorge is Europe’s answer to the Grand Canyon and it winds its way into the Sainte-Croix lake. Even though the lake gets busy in the summer, its sheer size hides the masses of people.

The small island of Porquerolles, off the rugged coast of Hyères, is a jogging haven. It’s a protected area, where eucalyptus trees have been planted for shade and where cars aren’t allowed. Check out our guide on when and where to go.